A Study of the Book of Mormon

Alma 26:1-7 This chapter represents the end of 14 years of missionary labors for Ammon and his brethren, though it doesn't expressly say so at the beginning of the chapter. Rather, this chapter starts immediately with the remarks of Ammon as he is reflecting back upon their labors. His remarks begin with a series of questions: "...Could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?" (vs. 1) "...What great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?" (vs. 2)  Ammon proceeds to answer for himself with this statement first: ...Our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God!  (vs. 3) And then he points to the blessing: And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. (also ...

Alma 25:13-17 One final group of Lamanites is recorded here as having been converted to the Lord after their warring. After the fight had all gone out of them, they too decided to join themselves to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, bury their weapons of war, and to walk in the ways of the Lord. ( see vs. 13-14 ) Verses 15 and 16 go on to explain their relationship to the law of Moses in connection with their faith in Christ. As the author, Mormon, explains it here (as it has been in other parts of the Book of Mormon as well -- Jacob 4:5 , Jarom 1:11 , Mosiah 3:14-15 , and Mosiah 16:14 among others), the law of Moses served to point them to faith in Christ. I cannot help but draw a connection between modern-day standards for the youth that the Church has established through our living prophets. Verse 16 might very easily read as follows in talking about our days: Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the [standards of the Church; e.g., "For the Strength of Youth"]; ...